Board president resigns

School district looks for new leadership after Miller-Freutel leaves

Steamboat Springs  Steamboat Springs School Board President Tom Miller-Freutel resigned Thursday, citing an inability to devote the time needed to be an effective member.

Miller-Freutel's resignation from the District 5 seat is effective Sept. 1.

Miller-Freutel said he "agonized" for four months over the decision.

"To be involved with the kids, the administration and the staff, it was a phenomenal experience," he said. "It was a learning experience from a leadership standpoint and then from a perspective of being an elected official. That is a reward in and of itself."

Miller-Freutel described himself as someone who likes to finish what he starts, another reason he and his wife, Roxane, spent months deciding what direction to take.

Miller-Freutel was elected to the board in November 2005 after running unopposed. He was first appointed to the School Board in June 2005 after previous board member Michael Loomis moved out of District 5 and was no longer able to represent it.

Since winning the election and assuming the School Board's presidency, Miller-Freutel and his wife have become major shareholders in Dial411/CBC, which manages 411 service and internal information services for organizations including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Denver Newspaper Agency and the University of Texas.

A transition is under way in which Miller-Freutel's role as president of the company will be finalized. The company is involved in the acquisition of large governmental and commercial contracts, which he is directly involved in.

"It's taken 110 percent," Miller-Freutel said about his commitment to his job.

Not being able to give that same attention to the Steamboat Springs School District was unacceptable to Miller-Freutel, whose daughter is a junior at Steamboat Springs High School.

"I value education above all else," he said. "I can think of no more important position to hold in our society where our actions directly affect the future of our most valued resource."

Miller-Freutel will continue in his capacity as School Board president until his resignation takes effect.

A community member who lives in District 5 will be appointed to fill his seat. A new School Board president also will have to be selected.

Phone calls to Superintendent Donna Howell and School Board member Jeff Troeger were not returned Thursday evening.